Coil based geophones are a proven t

Coil based geophones are a proven technology that has been used for a long time
by the industry. Recent advances in micromachined sensors now provide adequate
sensitivity, low noise, and dynamic range to be applicable to seismic acquisition.
MEMS have the potential to provide broader bandwidth, more accurate amplitude,
and less sensitivity to planting tilt. Together with the renewed interest for 3C
recording, triggered by the success of OBC surveys, these trends have incited
manufacturers to develop and market new digital sensors based on MEMS
accelerometers.
Several recent papers and articles have presented the advantages of threecomponent
acquisition with single digital sensors based on MEMS, and the advent
of these sensors has been promoted as the next big advance in land seismic
acquisition, much like the shift to 24-bits ten years ago. Has this technology really
advanced to the point that it can, or should, be used for general-purpose land
seismic acquisition? This paper will address the advantages and disadvantages for
the general application of single 3C digital sensors.